Flashcards · 9618 · AS Topic 12

Software Development (AS Level) flashcards

13 cards on AS Topic 12, subtopics 12.1 to 12.3. Pick a subtopic or study them all.

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What are the stages of the program development life cycle?: Analysis, design, coding, testing and maintenance.
How does the waterfall model work?: Each stage is completed in order before the next begins, with little going back. Suits projects with clear, fixed requirements; changes late on are costly.
How does the iterative model work?: A simple version is developed first and then improved in repeated cycles of design, coding and testing, adding features each time.
What is rapid application development (RAD)?: Prototypes are built quickly and refined with frequent user feedback, with little formal planning. Suits projects where requirements are unclear, but needs users to be closely involved.

What does a structure chart show?: How a program is broken into modules, in a hierarchy, and the parameters passed between them. It can also show selection and repetition.
What is a state-transition diagram?: A diagram showing the states a system can be in, the events (inputs) that cause a change of state, and the transitions between states.
Which symbols in a program flowchart show a decision and a process?: Decision: a diamond with two exits (yes/no). Process: a rectangle. Input/output: a parallelogram. Start/stop: a rounded terminator.

What is the difference between a syntax, a logic and a run-time error?: Syntax: breaks the rules of the language, so it will not translate. Logic: the program runs but gives the wrong result. Run-time: the program crashes while running, e.g. dividing by zero.
What are normal, abnormal (erroneous) and boundary test data?: Normal: valid data the program should accept. Abnormal: invalid data it should reject. Boundary (extreme): values on and either side of the limits of the valid range.
What is the difference between white-box and black-box testing?: White-box: tests every path through the code, chosen by looking at the code. Black-box: tests inputs against expected outputs without looking at the code.
What are alpha and beta testing?: Alpha: in-house testing by the developer’s own team. Beta: a near-finished version given to a group of real users outside the company, who report faults.
What are the three types of maintenance?: Corrective: fixing errors found after release. Adaptive: changing the program for new requirements or a new environment. Perfective: improving performance or usability.
What is a dry run?: Working through an algorithm by hand with test data, recording variable values in a trace table, to check the logic without running the code.